To be honest, I have always struggled with the concept of the Gospel of Grace. Maybe it’s my American upbringing, where hard work is needed to accomplish great things; or from my own idea of fairness, where there is an even trade between effort and reward; or maybe it’s just my pride, where I want to be in charge of my own destiny based on my own merits. Whatever the reason, as I get older, I have come to appreciate all the more the idea of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone for my salvation!!!

Romans 5.1-5

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ How would you define the following terms to someone not familiar with the Bible: ‘justified by faith’, ‘peace with God’, ‘standing in grace’, ‘rejoicing in hope’, and ‘the glory of God’

+ How does suffering produce endurance and why do we need endurance? Can you describe a time when you went through this suffering -> endurance -> character -> hope “chain” in your life?

+ Who is the Holy Spirit and what is His role in the life of a follower of Jesus? Read the following verses for help: John 14.15, 25-26, John 15.26-27, John 16.7-15, Romans 8.9-17, 26-27, 1 Corinthians 12.4-14, 2 Corinthians 3.17-17, Galatians 5.22-23, and Ephesians 1.13-14

+ What does it mean that “God’s love has been poured into our hearts”?

+ What do you think about the following quote:

“Everyone who is a Christian has the Holy Spirit ( Romans 8.9 ), but not every Christian lives in the fullness of the Holy Spirit ( Ephesians 5.18 ), and not every Christian walks in the Spirit ( Romans 8.4-5 ) (David Guzick 2018)

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Can you name things “in the flesh” that you have put confidence in rather than in faith in God alone? How can you count those things as “loss” and as “rubbish” like Paul did?

Lord, forgive us for our deep-seated pride and self-righteous attitude that exalts us and doesn’t honor You. Bring to our minds things we need to put to death in our flesh that we may walk and live in the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit, who You graciously give to those who believe. Amen.

Ephesians 5.16-17:

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?